We camped at on the coast a couple weeks ago. Here is a group photo:
My wife's brothers came out, one from NE, the other from ID. It rained every day but we still had fun. A few hours, here and there, the the sun came out, so it wasn't all that bad.
I hope everyone is having a great summer, I know I am!
Cheers,
Radar
I'm guessing that you don't have no-see-ums in your neck of the woods.
They were out in force last weekend. They will even get through the mesh on a tent, so I have to put the rain cover on. That sure keeps it nice and toasty inside. I'm getting too old for summertime camping anymore
:sun:
RFB
I know what you mean. We gave up tent camping about 8 years ago when we bought a camper. Air conditioning, refrigerator, microwave and most important your own bathroom. We spent a week in Jacksonville the first of July and were very comfortable. Of course all the campsites at Hannah Park are shaded too.
Andy
RFB- no-see-um netting
If you get a tent with no-see-um netting they will not get in. The better quality tents sold at EMS or REI usually have no-see-um netting, the Wallmart tents usually don't.
My Dad used to take us backpacking in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains in the summer. He brought 8'x8' black tarps with a big white X on them (gee wonder what they were for).
He would set those up with ropes for a lean to tent.
My Dad did everything as thrifty as possible, no fancy gear except he would bring a folding reflector oven. You set that up in front of the fire then put your coffee cake in it (he must've brought some mix you could use water with).
He also brought a little flask he said was his snake bite medicine. I suspect he had bourbon in there.
Sounds almost like my dad. I was raised back packing before I could walk.
I would sleep in as long as I could waiting for him to get up and stoke the fire and get breakfast going. He always went all out and fed us well. We slept on the ground, with nothing but a tarp. Sleeping in with those conditions is tough.
We'd fish all weekend, then hike 6 miles back out. Now they don't even stock those lakes now because of the lawsuits over the frogs. It's almost enough to make you sick.
I subscribe to the philosophy that "roughing it" means Holiday Inn. Had enough of the real stuff in the Army.
That seems to be the way life progresses. However I take pride that I could survive fairly comfortably with very little. In fact it is something that seems more of a possibility each day.
I have progressed to using a pad and usually a nice large cot. Not like those things you used to call a cot, you know the design we must have stolen from the Asians?
The equipment available today is vastly better than the old days.
Dad to progress to bringing a cheap piece of rolled up foam rubber for a mattress.
He loved to fish in the little trout streams up in the mountains.
I finally gave up my ensolite (sp?) pads and bought a Thermorest for backpacking. And a small 4 pound tent with no-see-um netting.
Light Weight Backpacking
Light Weight Backpacking
Holy crap, what DIDN'T he bring? How many months and how many people is that ridiculous pack supposed to be for? My perspective comes from my own practical experiences, which include being dropped out of a plane in North Canadian and Alaskan arctic regions for a month plus with no other supplies, lifeline or contact with humanity, as well as camping for a month plus in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts likewise with no outside supplies or contact. I'm still no expert at this stuff, but the one lesson through it all is that packing light, yet effectively is crucial.
I'm just saying, WTF - does that dude seriously think he can take it all with him??
Light Weight Backpacking
If you look close, the guy in the picture really is not carrying a lot of extra weight, some to be sure, but it is mainly a few tarps and a foldup chair.
Light Weight Backpacking
First off, what the heck are you doing camping in that arid hellish looking country? Second, I have been there with the heavy looking pack, but usually it is on a short hike <4 miles.
The worst part about that huge pack is how it puts the center of gravity way out behind unless you lean way forward. That can be a killer in my neck of the woods. One time when I was 12 or 13, I was hiking cross country back to the truck (by myself)I was jumping from rock to rock, crossing a creek. Landed....started leaning back.....the pack pulled me over backwards...causing me to crack my head on a rock and fall in the water. Ended up with a Goose bump, could have been much worse.
Now that I look closer to your pack, I see it does not look alot different than mine, other than the chair and the gallon jug of water.
JRL
